Combined noisemaker and action toy



1952 c. H. DIETZE, JR

COMBINED NOISEMAKER AND ACTION TOY Filed May 12, 1949 in a crouching position;

Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention. relates to a. combined noisemaker and action toy and more especially deals with an action toy which is actuated by the reed member of noisemakers of the cricket type.

a An object of this invention is to provide a.

toy which is capable of. simulating, the noise and action of various known phenomena, such as for example a cowboy firing a pistol, a Woodpecker pecking on a. tree trunk, etc. A further objectis to provide. such atoy which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy and durable in construction, reliablein operation and, attractive in appearance.

I attain the foregoing and other objects by my present invention wherein a noisemaker of the so-called cricket type isoperatively associated with an action toy having suitable shape and configurations. More especially, the association of the noisemaker and toy is effectuated by means of a connecting member havin base and slotted parts, the slot of which receives the reed, e. g., the spring steel strip of the, noisemaker, said slotted connecting memberbeing, rigidly attached to a movable member of the action toy, which movable member may be a part ofthe toy as the simulated arm and hand of a cowboy or the entire. simulated object, as in the. case of a woodpecker.

With the foregoing in mind my present invention consists of certain novel features of con struction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and which will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout and which form a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one preferred embodiment of my invention, the figure showing a toy which simulates a cowboy carrying a pistol Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. view is from the side opposite to that from which Fig. 1 is taken;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view showing the base of the slotted connecting mem ber attached to the movable arm member of Figs. 1. and 2;. o

.. 5;is a fragmentaryenlarged rear view? of the movable arm member of Figs. 1 and 2 andshows the recess for receiving the base of the slotted connecting member;

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4 but shows a modified arrangement for attaching the slotted member to the movable arm member of 1 and 2;

Fig. '7 is a side elevationof another preferred embodiment of my invention and simulates a Woodpecker;

Fig, 8 issimilar to Fig.2, showing a view of the Woodpecker shown in. Fig. 1 from the. side opposite to that from which Fig. 7 is taken;

1 except that the Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 5 and shows the recess in. the. sim ulated oodpecker of Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring to. the drawings, the base sheet or stationary part I, isfsuitably made from, metal, plasticor. the like, andhas suitable ornamentation's, lithographed or otherwise placed thereon to simulate a cowboy in a crouching position. The base member ispivotally attachedby grommet Zto the movable arm member 3. which simulates the arm, and. hands of a cowboy carrying a pistol. The arm member, 3- is provided with a, recess, 4, which may be suitably stamped near, the simulated elbow. By means of grommet 5- the basefi of connecting member 1 having a slot 8 (seeFig. 4) is fitted into the recess in the rear of the figure. The. base sheet I has, an opening 9. to permit the entry and movement there: through connecting member 1. If desired, the connecting member 1 may be rigidly attached as at It! (Fig. 6) to the, movable arm member 3 by solderingor spot welding or the like in which event, if desired, the arm member need not carry a recess 4 as in Fig. 5;.

The slotB of the connecting member I engages with a spring steel strip- II provided by a noisemaker of the so-called cricket type. This spring steel: strip Ll, carries a depression [2, as is customary in noisemakers of this type, the depression 12 acting as; an aid to the noisemaking, as is understood the art, and the strip I l acting as r ed-1 One, end I73 of the, spring steel strip H is rigidly, held againsta metal member M of suitable, shape, for example, that simulating an insect, suitably by means of flanges l5 formed;

As will be appreciated. by those skilled in the art my. present invention is not restricted to any particular simulated article but is generally applicable and may be employed wherever the simultaneous simulation of noise and movement is desired in toys and thelike.

For example, another specific embodiment of my invention is that of a simulated Woodpecker 20 (see Figs. 7" and 8). Thus, for example, a stationary or base plate suitably ornamented as by lithographing to show a tree, is provided with hole 9 through which the connecting member 1 such as that above described passes through. The base 6, of theconnecting member I is secured as above inarecessd of the simulatedwoodpecker 23 as by. grommet 5. The simulated woodpecker 2B is-pivotally connected to the basementlber I as for example by grommet 2. The noise- 3 maker part of my device as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In operating the devices of my invention all that need be done is to press the spring steel strip H as is normally done in actuating noisemakers of the cricket type. The downward pressure of the finger 21 on the spring steel strip I l causes an audible sound to be given off by the noisemaker. At the same time the connecting member 1 is moved by the spring strip II by reason of its engagement with the slot 8 of the member 1. In Fig. l the movable simulated arm 3 of the cowboy, being pivoted at 2, is forced in a general upward direction by the connecting member 1 during the downward motion of the spring steel strip II. The dotted lines 24 in Fig. 1 show the position of the movable arm member 3 when the steel strip II is pressed down as far as it will go. Upon release of pressure on the spring steel strip II the latter returns to its normal position, the connecting member I being carried along with the spring steel member ll, thereby resulting in the movable arm member 3 also returning to its normal position. By quickly repeating the cycle a staccato noisemaking with simultaneous movement of the arm simulating the shooting of a pistol are obtained.

In the case of the simulated Woodpecker shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a synchronized noisemaker and pecking of the Woodpecker is obtained in a similar manner, in this case the dotted lines 22 in Fig. 7 showing the position of the Woodpecker when the spring steel member II is pressed down as, far as it will go.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the principle of my invention is employable to simulate a variety of toys, wherein synchronized movement of at least a part of the toy together with a noise is desired. Furthermore, While my invention has been described in detail as to construction and arrangements of parts, it is understood that some modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention. While I prefer to employ metal such as steel for the various parts of my device other suitable materials such as plastics, sheet metal other than steel, fibre, pressed boards or other materials having strength suitable for the purposes of this invention may be employed, if desired, for all of the parts except the reed. The reed or spring may suitably be made from spring steel, aluminum, bi-metals, and other metals which yield similar sounds and results. Also, if desired, instead of the attachment of the connecting member to the movable part being by means of grommets or spot welding, as hereinbefore stated, it may be by means of prongs and slots, glue, or other suitable means, in order to effect a rigid attachment. In view of the foregoing no limitations are intended other than those imposed by the scope of the appended claims construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A toy of the character described, comprising,

in combination, an action toy, a noisemaker comprising a reed and a substantially curved portion, said action toy and said noisemaker being operatively joined to each other, and connecting means having base and slotted portions, the base portion of said connecting means being attached to said action toy and the slotted part of said connecting means engaging the reed of the noisemaker.

2. A toy of the character described, comprising, in combination, an action toy comprising movable and stationary parts, a noisemaker comprising a reed and a substantially curved portion having a flat side, the stationary part of said action toy and the flat side of said noisemaker being rigidly joined, and connecting means having base and slotted portions, the base portion of said connecting means being rigidly attached to the movable part of said action toy and the slotted part of said connecting means engaging the reed of said noisemaker.

3. A toy of the character described, comprising, in combination, an action toy comprising movable and stationary parts, said movable part being in front of said stationary part and pivotally connected therewith, an opening in said sta' tionary part, a noisemaker comprising a reed and a substantially curved portion having a fiat side, the stationary part of said action toy and the flat side of said noisemaker being rigidly joined, and connecting means having base and slotted portions passing through said opening in said stationary part of said toy, the base portion of said connecting means being rigidly attached to the movable part of said action toy and the slotted part of said connecting means engaging the reed of said noisemaker.

4. A toy of the character described, comprising, in combination, an action toy comprising movable and stationary parts, said movable part having a recess in the rear thereof and being in front of .said stationary part and pivotally connected therewith, an opening in saidstationary part, a noisemaker comprising a reed and a substantially curved portion having a flat side, the sta tionary part of said action toy and the flat side of said noisemaker being rigidly joined, and connecting means having base and slotted portions passing through said opening in said stationary I part of said toy, the base portion of said connecttionary part of said action toy and the flat side a of said noisemaker being rigidly joined by means of grommets, and connecting means having base and slotted portions passing through said opening in said stationary part of said toy, the base portion of said connecting means being rigidly attached to said recess of the movable part of said action toy, said attachment being by means of grommets, and the slotted part of said connecting means engaging the reed of said noise maker. I

1 CARL I-I. DIETZE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s'ra'rns PATENTS Number Name Date 1,635,770 Starke July 12, 1927 1,891,219 Baker Dec. 20, 1932 

